The teen died of diabetic ketoacidosis, authorities said

Published December 27, 2018•Updated on December 27, 2018 at 2:42 pm

An Illinois mother faces charges after she allegedly tried to conceal her daughter’s diabetes before the teenage girl’s death, according to authorities.

Amber Hampshire, of Alton, was charged with involuntary manslaughter and endangering the life of a child after paramedics responded to her home on Nov. 3 and found her 14-year-old daughter unresponsive and not breathing, according to Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Gibbons.

The teen girl, Emily Hampshire, was in cardiac arrest and was airlifted to Cardinal Glennon Hospital in St. Louis, where she was later pronounced dead, officials said. Her cause of death was ruled diabetic ketoacidosis.

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Gibbons said an investigation determined Emily Hampshire was diagnosed with diabetes in 2013 and had suffered prior medical complications, including one as recent as February 2018, as a result of diabetic ketoacidosis.

“Further investigation indicates that her mother, Amber Hampshire was fully aware of Emily’s diabetic condition but took measures to conceal Emily’s diabetes and failed to provide Emily with appropriate medical treatment and medication, which led to Emily’s death from diabetic ketoacidosis,” Gibbons said in a statement.

Amber Hampshire was charged with both felonies and her bond was set at $100,000. Gibbons said Thursday. It was not immediately clear if Hampshire had an attorney.

If convicted, the maximum penalty for involuntary manslaughter is three to 14 years in prison and for endangering the life of a minor it is two to 10 years in prison.